We are ready to fight back-Foreign nationals in South Africa said

Nigerians are reported attacking business owned by South Africans in Nigeria.It is said mobile network provider Mtn is one of them.

In Gauteng, nationals from different African countries – including Ethiopians, Somalians, Mozambicans, Malawians, Nigerians, Tanzanians, Zambians and Zimbabweans – have joined forces and threatened to mobilise in the event of a recurrence of attacks by South Africans.

Somali entrepreneur Khalid Abdiaziz is part of the pact and told local media in South Africa that foreigners were quet for a long time and time has come to act.

“For too long, we have been quiet while our lazy South African colleagues come to loot our goods and destroy property, claiming we are taking their jobs,” he said.

“Are you suggesting the spaza I am running is taking anyone’s job? Is selling tomatoes and vegetables in the streets stealing a job? We will hit back if confronted.”

Mozambican Simão Alberto echo a somali national and said his compatriots in Mozambique were on “high alert” for the possibility of attacks against Mozambicans in South Africa.

“Many of our own people have been killed in previous attacks, without any action taken against perpetrators. South Africans have always behaved like Dracula and vampires. This time, we are going tit for tat,” said Alberto.

Commenting on Friday’s outbreak of violence in Pretoria, Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said 136 people, mainly South Africans, were arrested on public violence charges. The suspects will appear in court on monday.

“Let me also warn members of the public that whosoever breaks the law, whether South African or foreigner, the law will always take its course,” he said.